Power-transmission mechanism.



. L. B. PAXSON.

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-23.1917.

1 ,296,2 1 2 Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

law 3. P5 15517, mmm

L. B. PAXSON.

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED OCT-23. 1911.

1,296,21 2. Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. B. PAXSON.

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. I917.

1,296,212. Patented Mar. 4; 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v i1 6 1 2 M LEV/'5 Farm/7,

40 1 1 indicated, in dottedlines.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnrcn.

LEVI nrAxsoN, or NORRISTOWN,Y PENNSY1LV.ANIA.

POWER-TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that zen of the United States, residing at-the city of Norristown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Transmission 'Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

:My invention relates particularly to'power transmission mechanism adapted for motor driven vehicles; and my main object is to provide improved means for permitting differential movement to the driven wheels as required when the vehicle is rounding curves forwardly-or rearwardly. The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating .a' preferred embodiment thereof, and the novel features are clearly definedin the subjoined claims. I i

Figure 1' is a sectional view of such em I bodiment of my invention as applied to an closed parts.

automobile rear axle housing; the section cutting an insert on the line 11 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, partly on the line AA and partly onthe line B--B' of Fig. 1, the axle housing and drive gear ring being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detached driving disk insert.

Figs. 4aand 4 are separate views of the driving disk; Fig. 4: beinga section onthe lines D O E ofFig. P. One-of theseparately formed inserts and one of the driving bars are shown inposition in the disk openings provided therefor. 1

Figs. 5 and 5* are respectively an edge and face view of a strut-carrier disk; two struts being shown in different pivotal positions therein, and an engaged driving bar being 7 Figs. 6,6 andG 'are difl'erent iviewsof'a. detached driving strut. i

:Figs. 7 and 7 areidi'fierent views of a detached drivin bar. i Figs. 8 an 8 are respectively face-and edge views ofthe cupped axle-gear hub.

The indicated axle housing 9 and bearings 1 1,14 therein may be of any desired construction adapted for assembling of the in-' The separate axle parts, indi'- cated by dotted -lines,.engage the splined portions 28, 28 of the separate driven; axlegear hubs 8, 8, the strains upon' which are transmitted to the housing.

" The driving member of: my improved Specification of Letters Patent.

I, LEVI B. PAXSON, a citimechanism comprises a motor-driven casing 13, which is provided, as shown, with a ring gear 10 for connection to the motor and a central driving disk 4, the former beingshown rigidly secured thereto by rivets 11 and the latter by keys 18 in key-ways 18 while the cover portion 15'of the casing is secured by {bolts 17 This casing, withits: rigid cover and driving disk is mounted in the housing bearings and incloses the other operating parts.

Each of the driven axle-gear hubs,.8, 8 has its splinedaxle-engaging portion 28 mounted in the hollow bearing bosses 13 of the casing 13, and a cupped head portion 8 rotatably y Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed. October 23, 1917. Serial No. 198,045. '7

hub member is driven as hereinafter fully described. The circular openings 29 shown, are provided .for lubrication hereafter referred to.

Themeans by which these axle-gear hubs, 8, 8 are driven from the driving disk 1 0f rotary casing 13, will now be described.

This is accomplished through the medium of strut-carrier disks 5, 5,: which are) r0ta-. tably mounted in the cupped portions of the driven axle-gear.- hubs 8, 8, on opposite sides of the central driving disk. 4; said disks 5, 5 being formed with opposite hollow'bearing bosses 21,20 extending respectively into the. adjacent hub member and the central opening of the disk 4. Each of these strutcarrier disks 5, 5 carries, as shown, two oppositely acting pairs of adjustably mounted, driving struts 6, 6, 6, 6 adapted'to automatically engage and disengage the teeth 24 of its inc'losing hub member 8 as required for differential forward or backward driving; andreaoh is} rotated with the driving'disk' l by means o'fa driving bar or bars 7 carried by said driving disk andlextended laterally strut-container, disks.

therefrom into engaging slots .22 in. the

The driving bar 7 as shown, is a separate part carriedby theldriving disk 4; its middle portion 71 being loosely engaged in an opening-72' in disk 4, (as indicatedi-n Fig. 4), andits oppositely projecting end portions' engaging :the respective strut-carrier disks5, 5, as stated, so as to rotate the latter with disk-4.

Each driving striit 6 has tooth-engaging,

rectangular body With an enlarged cylindrical head 61 adapted. to loosely, fit an'. open socket 23 of a strut ca'rrier 'dis'k'5"; 'the"so'clet opening through Which the: rectangular. body projects, being made Wide enough to permit of adjustingthe latter to hub engag;

ingor'disengagingpositions as indicatedin Fig. 5*, While safely retaining tlre'stnut. A? semi-circular projection 62, with an ap proximatelydiainetral:fmezo3; is: formedzon one side of the cylindrieala strut head; by ineansof which required?turningtmoviementt is: automatically imparted: to) the; strutl- Hereinafter descrikle'dii-- As" shown: these struts are-naturally thrown! outward to i Hub engaging: position; duringpperationaby cen t'ri'fugal force; but spring-pressed pins 64: are provided to retainithennin: rojeetedpw sition excepting:- when positively moved-2 therefrom. I

'Hhe strut carriers 5'; 5' are; normally rotated positively w In the: dni'vin diski 4; in:

either forward or" rearward driving; by

of the engagingrdrivingz bars 7:; eat-- ga genient -of theirhrit thnoWn struts Gin-the; tooth-grooves 24 016 the axleear hubs 8; 8 dia v'in g the ldttei fbIWa L ly on'rearwandly with t lie dhiviilgi member comprising casing; 13 cover" 15;='-anddish 4 when iinroundingg a curve; one gear-hub' 8* is caused to rotate faster' than i'tsengaged: strut; car-Fiery the ,strnts:"- which: were engaged with said'-- gear--- hub 8 are depressed and ride looselyalon'g the' dvvells -atr-"and the tooth" grooves ae until the curve: isr-passed and thespeedof the outer 'vwheelkbecomes equaht *the-ri'nner gaften whiehmhey: will neengage in: tooth groove 24:.and be normally driven -vvith 'the-dislz- 7 When the: direction of movement-Jeff the vehicle is reversedt the: friction of: the: hukh portions 21'" f st'ru't carrier 5dn1the axle gean'ineniben 8,. Will prevent struficarfiier' 5? fnoin turning with the driving. disk" 4 until the play allowed to the driving ban in the engaging opening 72 orthe: disk {indicated in -Fig." 4& has:been-taken:up.- l lie'efi ect' of: uh'i's limited turning movement of the" disk independentlyofiohe sfirut carrier, is toicausev the flat f2tees-(3 ofthe se'mi -circulau proj'ee tions' of the two? driving: struts previously operating, to Contact} with relatively" ineclined flat: faces of the senii circuiai proj'eetions 81 Orin-Serbs 3: (fFi'gi 31) inserted in: elliptical openings 82 of the driving disk 4?; Which contact: turns inwargdto inoperative position as indicated in" Fig.- 5 Whilethe: other -ihserts are simultaneously Withdi a wn from contact vvith the" other driving: struts 6 sor' ZUSlJO leave them free to swing outward to? their tooth-engaging? position; also indicated in Fig. 5 'I hej dWllSE25 be-E- tween: the-teeth grooves 24% of: the: axle-gear? members are: of: such length: as to allow the forward driving struts 6 to be brought; to

inoperative? while the Backward drivingrstruts are being projected to operative position, and vice versa.

When going"dovvn' a Hill the friction between tho.strut/carriers 5, 5 and the axle gear-hubs 8 8 si1 nilarly causes the forwarddriving struts to be depressed to inoperative strutsrsofith at-theyv assume their operative position and engage the teeth of the axle gear hubs to prevent rotationuofv the latter'vand-ofi their connectedvvheels at:- a higher speed than thataof: the: motor-driven; disk; thus:

servinggto efi'eetively; p'revent runningaway- Of tlIWVGhlGlGU Special! provision is: made; for? insuring:

proper lubricationoff'theinclosed:partsgthe oil contained imtheliousingzl3 beingforcech through; slots:.26,n 27. of v the rotating: casing 13;. 1'5; an'di openings: 29 in the; axle: gear:- membersiS; and: distributed through oiling;

grooves indicated to thewearing: surfaces;- The improved mechanism-n set: forth is very simple? and: reliablev in: the automatic opera,

tioni required uirder varyingz conditions.- 7

What I clannus':

pnisi-ngsa: housinga; dnivingnasingrmounted" therein." and; providedi Withia: central driving:

disk; alined axle parts having euppedz geanhubs mounted: in said casing: on opposite sides: of sa1d driving: disk; carrier; disks;

mounted in: the ne'spective gear-hubss and-s having. drivingban" conneotiona With: said; driving: disk-g and: oppositely acting toothengagingz' struts pivotally mounted. in: each! of: said? carrier-disks; saidt driving ban *'con-.

positionand releases the backward driving I y i 1 2 AL power-.2 transmissionr mechanism com.-

nection being adapted to permit; a slight-n0 V tary' movemenu-ofi said? driving; disk. relaate: driving: disk,. and .'idrivingibar-v conneo' tionsi rotatively engaging' said pants; and:

pains of toothgengagingi strutss-- pivotally mounted: in each: of'said strutwcarrier disks,

eachof said struts havingisetti-ngiprojections said driving disk. s V

1 v3. Ai powerrtransnii'ssion'imechanism comprising in alined arrangement aixl'e parts Having. gearshubsgi an intermediate drivihg disk formed with: disivica sbar and; insertrree cesses; strutrcarrien dis is: mounted: the

respective g'earshubs and. carrying; driving-e bar projectionsiengaged insaiddrivi1ig-bar recesses .an'depairs; of. forward andzreauvvamd driving SfiIflllSE pivotal ly 'nrounted in said; sti utscarrierl disks-and *providediwithz sets ting projections oesses.

- powertraxnsmissimnmeciiaiusmsconif e gaged. in said inserts ref- 115 7 extending intoengagingrecesses fo'rmedlin V prising a housing, a driving casing mounted therein and provided with a central driving disk; alined axle parts having cupped gearhubs mounted in said casing on opposite sides of said driving disk; and a carrier disk mounted in each of said gear hubs and carrying oppositely-acting tooth-engaging struts ivotally mounted therein; said driving dis being provided with means for rotating said carrier disks and for automatically setting said struts to engage or disengage the gear hubs, and said gear hubs having strut contacting gear dwells upon which said adjustable struts freely ride.

5. A power transmission mechanism comprising a central driving disk and axially alined axle gear-hubs and interposed strutcarrier disks; oppositely acting driving struts having cylindrical portions pivotally socketed in each of said carrier disks and each provided with a semi-cylindrical extension, driving connections between said driv ing and carrier disks adapted to permit of limited relative rotation, and extension-engaging means in said driving disk adapted to pivotally adjust said struts.

6. A power transmission mechanism comprising a central driving disk and axially Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the alined axle gear-hubs and interposed strutcarrier disks; oppositely acting driving struts having cylindrical portions pivotally socketed in each of said carrier disks and each provided with a semi-cylindrical extension, driving connections between said driving and carrier disks adapted to permit of limited relative rotation, and inserts in said drivin disk having inclined extensioncontacting aces adapted to pivotally adjust said struts upon relative movement of the disks.

7. A power transmission mechanism comprising in alined arrangement axle parts having gear-hubs; an intermediate driving disk formed with driving-bar and insert recesses; strut-carrier disks mounted in the respective gear-hubs and carrying driving-bar projections engaged in said driving-bar recesses; separate strut-setting inserts mounted in said insert recesses; and pairs of forward and rearward driving-struts pivotally mounted in said strut-carrier disks and provided with setting projections arranged to be operatively engaged by said inserts.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' LEVI B. PAXSON.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

